Gestational diabetes is unfortunately a common occurrence in pregnancy, affecting thousands of pregnant women in the United States each year. If left undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to a myriad of medical issues for bother mother and baby.

Gestational Diabetes Statistics and Facts

According to the American Diabetes Association,gestational diabetes has increased significantly over the past 20 years. The increase has happened for several reasons, including:

Increase in maternal obesity

Decrease in physical activity

Being 25 and older when pregnant

Family history of diabetes

Excessive amniotic fluid

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms

In many cases, there are no symptoms at all. Some women may go back to a normal blood sugar within a few weeks after delivery. However, other pregnant women may experience:

Frequent infections

Fatigue

Blurred vision

Nausea and/or vomiting

Weight loss

Increased thirst and urination

How Does Gestational Diabetes Affect Infants?

If gestational diabetes is untreated or even treated poorly, infants are at risk for several health issues. When gestational diabetes develops, the pancreas must work overtime in order to produce the insulin needed for your body. When this occurs, it not only gives an infant high blood glucose levels, but the infant’s pancreas also creates extra insulin in an attempt to rid the additional blood glucose passed down from the mother.

Extra insulin and high blood glucose levels can cause infants to develop fetal macrosomia, also known as “fat baby” syndrome, a condition marked by excessive fetal weight and size. An unusually large infant is at risk for a plethora of birth injuries, including brachial plexus injuries, shoulder dystocia, and more. Additionally, infants are at risk for excessive weight gain later in life.

Additionally, if you have high blood sugar during pregnancy, the risk of early labor and delivery significantly increases. Early labor and delivery comes with its own set of risks, including infant respiratory distress syndrome, a health disorder marked by difficulties in breathing. It’s important to note that although respiratory distress syndrome happens more often with preterm deliveries, it can also affect infants who are not born early if the mother has gestational diabetes.

How Does Gestational Diabetes Affect Pregnant Women?

If you develop gestational diabetes while pregnant, it’s important that it’s diagnosed and treated properly. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes are at risk for:

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a severe health complication, marked by excessively high blood pressure. It can also lead to organ damage and is life-threatening to both mother and infant. Other complications of preeclampsia may include:

Placental abruption

Poor blood flow to the placenta

Heart and blood vessel diseases

HELLP syndrome

Development of Type 2 Diabetes

Gestational diabetes also increases the risk of having Type 2 diabetes as well as gestational diabetes in future pregnancies. Type 2 diabetes, however, can be controlled by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and incorporating plenty of healthy foods into your diet.

If applicable, physicians may also recommend scheduled physical activities to help you maintain or reduce your weight, as maternal obesity is linked to gestational diabetes.

Who is Liable if Gestational Diabetes is Not Diagnosed?

If gestational diabetes is caught early enough, the aforementioned risks will decrease significantly. Your physician has the duty and obligation of ensuring any medical problems are detected, diagnosed, and treated while you’re pregnant. Although liability for birth injuries and other health issues are determined depending on each individual circumstance, if physicians fail to diagnose and treat gestational, they may be liable for damages.